Bob Baker's The Buzz Factor
Music marketing tips and self-promotion ideas for independent songwriters, musicians and bands.
Bob Baker's Indie Music Promotion Blog
News, notes and ideas on music marketing, self-promotion, artist empowerment and more
September 02, 2008
How to Learn More About the Music Biz
You already know this: To be successful with your music, you must have talent and drive and be smart about promoting yourself. You also have to mentally absorb and learn a lot of STUFF.
How do you keep up with it all?
Well, here are some interesting stats about the way people internalize ideas.
These numbers are loosely based on something called the Cone of Experience created years ago by an educator named Edgar Dale. Apparently, Dale never assigned percentages to his "cone" and warned that the levels of experience don't always apply to every person in every situation.
But the implication is clear ...
For example, you can read about how to drive a car and get a minimal amount of knowledge that way. You can listen to someone who knows how to drive, and even watch them while they drive ... and that will give you a greater understanding.
But getting behind a wheel and actually driving will give you the most direct experience. And if you take the knowledge you gained through that experience and tell someone else about it -- on top of the previous reading and watching and listening -- you will know how to drive a car on the deepest personal level.
So ... do you wanna learn something new?
Maybe how to "pimp" your MySpace profile, or how to edit video using iMovie on your Mac, or how to get more media exposure for your music?
Then don't just read about it. See, hear and feel it. Involve all of your senses. Read books about it. Listen to audio programs about it. Watch videos about it. Find out who's already doing it and talk with them.
Then try doing some of it yourself. And as you learn things about it, share your newfound knowledge with others -- while also continuing to read, write, hear, see, touch, smell, taste, and talk about as much of it as you can.
In the next blog post, I'll cover how to use these same principles to promote yourself and communicate with your fans.
-Bob
Did you enjoy this blog post? Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my Buzz Factor ezine -- the longest running music career tips email newsletter on the Internet. Since 1995. Go grab your free subscription now.
How do you keep up with it all?
Well, here are some interesting stats about the way people internalize ideas.
WE REMEMBER ...
10% of what we read (books, blogs, articles, etc.)
20% of what we hear (conversations, audio programs, music)
30% of what we see (pictures, images)
50% of what we see and hear (audio-visual presentations, personal observation)
70% of what we say (discussions with others, self-talk out loud)
80% of what we personally experience (do through action)
90% of what we teach others (share what we've learned)
These numbers are loosely based on something called the Cone of Experience created years ago by an educator named Edgar Dale. Apparently, Dale never assigned percentages to his "cone" and warned that the levels of experience don't always apply to every person in every situation.
But the implication is clear ...
For example, you can read about how to drive a car and get a minimal amount of knowledge that way. You can listen to someone who knows how to drive, and even watch them while they drive ... and that will give you a greater understanding.
But getting behind a wheel and actually driving will give you the most direct experience. And if you take the knowledge you gained through that experience and tell someone else about it -- on top of the previous reading and watching and listening -- you will know how to drive a car on the deepest personal level.
So ... do you wanna learn something new?
Maybe how to "pimp" your MySpace profile, or how to edit video using iMovie on your Mac, or how to get more media exposure for your music?
Then don't just read about it. See, hear and feel it. Involve all of your senses. Read books about it. Listen to audio programs about it. Watch videos about it. Find out who's already doing it and talk with them.
Then try doing some of it yourself. And as you learn things about it, share your newfound knowledge with others -- while also continuing to read, write, hear, see, touch, smell, taste, and talk about as much of it as you can.
In the next blog post, I'll cover how to use these same principles to promote yourself and communicate with your fans.
-Bob
Did you enjoy this blog post? Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my Buzz Factor ezine -- the longest running music career tips email newsletter on the Internet. Since 1995. Go grab your free subscription now.
posted by Bob Baker @ 11:44 AM
3 comments
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What About Bob?
Bob Baker is an author, indie musician and former music magazine editor dedicated to showing musicians of all kinds how to get exposure, connect with fans, sell more CDs, and increase their incomes.
Bob's Books
Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook:
201 Self-Promotion Ideas for Song-
writers, Musicians and Bands on a Budget
55 Ways to Promote & Sell Your Book on the Internet
A easy-to-read overview of online marketing
- Killer Music Press Kits
- 70 Ways to Promote & Sell Your Music on the Internet
- Music Marketing & Publicity Crash Courses
- Indie Music PR Bootcamp
- Killer Music Web Sites
- How to Triple Your Music Income This Year
- Online Music PR Hot List
- How to Make a Living as a Full-Time Musician
- Do-It-Yourself Internet Music PR & Publicity
- How to Use Video to Promote Your Music Online
- How to Publish Your Own Indie Book
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Previous Posts
- The Art of Simple Music Web Design
- My Best Music Success Advice
- The Power of Habits (Don't Make This Mistake)
- FREE Ebook: How to Recession-Proof Your Music Care...
- YouTube Mega Hits: Avril Lavigne, Rihanna, Alicia ...
- Does Your Live Show Suck?
- Book a New Music Gig - Tonight!
- What Is MySpace Up to Now?
- Jonas Brothers: Be Famous to Someone
- Are You Breaking the Law?
Favorite Music Blogs
- Derek Sivers
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- Music Think Tank
- Ariel Hyatt
- Artists House Music
- Musicians Cooler
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- Bob Lefsetz
- Hypebot
- Music Industry Report
Copyright 2004-2010 Bob Baker
Hi Bob -
As always, I feel inspired by your Indie Music Promotion Blog!
Thanks for sharing!!!
You're a STAR!!
Best wishes from England,
Jules
www.myspace.com/JulieYount
www.JulieYount.com
So I will only remember about 10 per cent of this post. It would benefit me to a greater extent, if I had actually written it myself.
Hi Bob, I am Gordon Franks from South Africa and I am sure you remember me from the countless times I tried to purchase your products without breaking ground. As you are aware, I never gave up and now it is a reality that I most of your books, some with your autograph. This in itself is such an inspiration to me that I have progressed from your material. I want to recommend you to all the musicians that are stuck in a rut or spinning their wheels with frustration on the same ground for years. Zig Ziglar quotes..."You can have everything in life, if you will just help enough other people get what they want". Without a a shadow of doubt Bob, you have helped thousands of people around the globe get what they want and you are an inspiration for anyone to be successfull in life. I trust that this will encourage people out there there give you a chance to redirect their careers. You are a role model to me and I thank you sincerely. All my Love and Best Wishes from the "Designer's Original". Gordon Franks (Guitar Maestro & Entertainer Extra-ordinaire) - South Africa.
www.gordonfranks.net
www.gordonfranks.co.za